Jeff Linder

High school softball: Cedar Rapids Prairie ends a nine-game losing streak, pushing past Iowa City Liberty, 11-6.

Iowa women’s basketball: Summer practice has begun at Iowa, and with that comes the first steps of ‘melding’ a roster that features sixth-year Kylie Feuerbach and five ‘newbies.’

High school softball: Dubuque Wahlert’s Julia Roth delivers a pair of clutch hits in the opener, and the 3A top-ranked Golden Eagles go on to sweep 5A No. 2 Linn-Mar.

High school softball notes: With 10 wins in their last 11 games, the Beckman Blazers are closing in on a River Valley Conference North Division softball title.

Get to know Gazette sports reporter Jeff Linder

Women’s basketball: Iowa will face Baylor (Nov. 20) and Miami (Nov. 22) in Orlando.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will release high school softball postseason pairings later this week for the tournament series, which begins July 7. For now, here are the The Gazette’s mock pairings.

Area softball Super Ten and standings (June 23): Unbeaten Cedar Rapids Xavier remains a clear No. 1; Linn-Mar continues its season-long climb, all the way up to No. 2.

High school softball: With a win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Monday, South Tama ended an 80-game losing streak and a 151-game Wamac slump.

Prep softball: Ed-Co pitcher Rachel Eglseder picks up a win, a save and 6 RBIs, and the Vikings sweep North Linn for the first time in 13 years.

High school basketball: Philip Klett will transition from the girls’ program to the boys’ at Center Point-Urbana.

Softball notes: Momentum from last year’s state run has carried over into a 10-0 start for Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Area softball Super Ten and standings (June 11): The top three teams remain the same; Linn-Mar and Western Dubuque each jump four spots.

Prep softball: Unlikely comeback allows Kennedy to earn an MVC split with Linn-Mar.

Prep softball: Katie Pilcher matches school slugging record (34 career home runs and counting); Cedar Rapids Xavier sweeps Cedar Rapids Jefferson to reach 15-0.